CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 genotypes in an elderly Swedish population

Objective: Eighty-three healthy elderly Swedish subjects (age 87 ± 4 years, mean ± SD, range 80–98 years) were genotyped with respect to the two genetic polymorphisms of oxidative drug metabolism, CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A control population consisted of 248 younger unrelated healthy volunteers (age 31 ± 9 years, range 19–63 years) for CYP2D6, and 162 (age 30 ± 8 years, range 19–55 years) for CYP2C19. Results: No significant differences were found between the control groups and the elderly subjects with respect to the frequencies of the defect alleles CYP2D6*3, CYP2D6*4, CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3. Neither were there any differences in the genotype frequencies, or the predicted phenotype frequencies. The study indicates that the CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 genotypes play no major role in the probability of reaching high age. Conclusion: No genetically determined differences in the pharmacokinetics of drugs metabolized by these two polymorphic enzymes are to be expected in the oldest age groups compared with younger adults. Received: 10 March 1998 / Accepted: 1 May 1998